So whats next? That's what ever runner asks after the last big race and I've found my answer: Finally taking a stab at doing an Ultra. After completing Part 4: Sub 4 Hours or Bust it's on to bigger and better bling and this is certainly much bigger. Almost twice as much to be exact, but if it was easy then everyone would do it: And "I AIN'T EVERYONE." Como se dice: "Fingers Crossed!"

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Final Chapter (I think!)

August 8, 2012

Alfred, NY

Its been over a
week since I've been home and while things are starting to feel more
and more normal everyday its still a pretty big transition for me.
I've been truly surprised at how quickly I can go from meeting
countless new people and traveling to new cities on an almost daily
basis back to sitting in front of Netflix watching episode after
episode of whatever I'm currently into (right now its Scrubs!).
Everything still doesn't really feel back to normal for me at all,
but doing little things like actually grocery shopping for real and
restocking your fridge certainly helps.

Every time I come
home from a big trip it seems to get harder and harder to reconcile
the changes that have taken place though. Sitting with friends I
feel like I'm truly overflowing with stories I'm sure they'll get
sick of, but the hardest part is feeling like you've accomplished
something that only you really know what you did. You can try to
explain and every once and now and then you'll get the satisfaction
of a truly captivated audience, but it still doesn't seem like
enough. Besides, you can only work into a conversation that you went
on an 8,000 mile motorcycle ride down to Mexico so many times before
even you yourself start to feel like a broken record, but thankfully
I'm not there yet.

One of the hardest
parts about coming home is that you know you've changed inside as a
person, but it seems like no one else has. In the last two months
I've dealt with more obstacles, more on your toes challenges, and
triumphed more times than I probably deserve so I know those changes
are real. I've traveled alone through countless states in both the
US and Mexico, and through couch surfing and the hostels I've met
more people I will never forget so I feel deep down that with these
experiences change is inevitable. Just how deep those changes really
are is still questionable though and I'm curious to see if my
diligence to details, planning skills, and new found appreciation for
paying closer attention to small things (like listening closely to my
engine for hundreds of miles on end for any signs of trouble) learned
on the trip will hold over to my work life, but I won't be holding my
breath. When you think about it everyone has changed; everyone has
done something with their summer that you didn't get to do, but you
still feel that somehow somethings different. You've accomplished
something that you know most of your friends and acquaintances never
will and that fact is pretty hard to accept. While these feelings of
separation are without a doubt getting better everyday its still
going to be a continuing struggle to accept the tedium of everyday
life, but thankfully when the students get back in a week or so I'll
be able to dive head first into that.

Either way, for all
the confused and doubtful looks I received before I left when trying
to explain my plans I now know that I can do it, and I did though I
never had any doubts. Riding back into town over a week ago I felt
victorious once again confirming that anyone can really do anything
they want to if they put their minds to do especially if they've
decided they will succeed. For me the question that if you life was
a book would anyone read it plays heavily on the choices I make, yet
I do these things for no one but myself. I can say that I've lived
in 3 countries, have traveled to many more, have backpacked for two
months across the amazing country of Brazil, and have taught English
in Nicaragua for two months as well, but now I can add to that list
saying that I've taken an incredible motorcycle voyage to Mexico and
back as well. It wasn't always easy everyday, but it was
unquestionably one of the best things I've ever done in my life, and
the benefits far out weighed the difficulties.

Now without
hesitation I list this last voyage off as a real accomplishment but
I'm also aware that I didn't achieve everything that I had wanted to
do. I made it no further South then Mexico city, and certainly
failed to enter into the other countries that I had wanted to visit.
But the truth is that I'm okay with that. I said in the beginning of
the blog its the journey that matters and like I've said I'm sure to
peoples annoyance countless time before, the journey was mind
blowing. While I didn't get to see the places I planned, the people
I met along my way and shared parts of my journey with far outweighed
an sights that I missed. Whats for sure is there will be a next time
and I'll be back to adventure traveling as soon as possible. If that
will be by bike I really can't answer, but if the opportunity
presented itself I know I'd be up for it. Back in New York it will
still be riding season for at least a couple more months and I plan
on taking as many mini trips by bike as I can. Its been a while
since I've visited one of my favorite places in New York State: the
Adirondacks, so that will probably be my next destination for now.
After that I plan on trying to meet up with some incredible new
inspiring friends around the world from Washington state, Mexico, and
as far away as New Zealand, but for now we'll just have to see how
things go and where life takes me next. I'm not too worried
though...

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About Me

Escapism with style defined my summer of 2012... But now I'm back on the road again. This time though there's a little less escapism with a little more style thanks to Saphira's new paint job. Knowing myself we should probably still keep the "Fingers Crossed" though!